GFIT 


\ 


T!W? 


TREASURY    DEPARTMENT 

UNITED  STATES  PUBLIC  HEALTH   SERVICE 

RUPERT  BLUE,  Surgeon  General 

iMued  in  cooperation  with  the  Department  of  the  Interior 
Bureau  of  Education. 


Thl*  pamphlet  U  for  boy»  14  and  over.     A  ilmllar 
pamphlet  for  men  In  entitled  "Man-Power." 


.    / 


BE  A  "CLASS  ONE  A"  MAN. 

Your  body  is  your  life-time,  willing  servant.  Abuse  it — 
it  will  be  patient,  but  when  it  takes  revenge  it  takes  it  a 
thousandfold.  Give  it  a  square  deal,  and  it  will  give  you  a 
square  deal  and  more — it  will  give  you  back  pure  blood  and 
strong,  skilled  muscles  and  a  clear  brain  for  your  future 
happiness,  your  country's  service,  and  the  world's  work. 


s.  B.  of  H. 
V.  D.  Pamphlet  No.  I.  c- 


First  edition  issued  June,  1918,  by  Bureau  of  Education  in  cooperation  with 
Medical  Section,  Council  of  National  Defense. 

Revised  October,  1918,  February,  1919,  and  issued  by  Public  Health  Service, 
228  First  Street  N.  W.,  Washington,  D.  C. 


SHLT 

URL 


KEEPING   FIT 


During  the  war  all  the  fighting  nations  learned  the  supreme 
value  of  man-power.  Idlers  were  put  to  work  and  every  possible 
method  was  adopted  which  would  help  to  bring  each  worker  up 
to  top-notch  efficiency. 

The  years  just  ahead  will  make  demands  no  less  severe  on  the 
nation's  manhood.  Work  at  full  capacity  and  top  speed  in  factory, 
mine,  farm,  and  railroad  will  be  needed  to  replenish  the  world's 
depleted  store  of  material  goods.  Clear  brains,  keen  intelligence, 
and  physical  endurance  will  be  required  for  the  manifold  scientific, 
professional,  constructive,  and  humane  tasks  that  face  us.  Each 
individual  member  of  the  coming  generation  of  America's  young 
men  is  the  more  valuable  and  responsible  because  so  many  of  his 
older  brothers  the  world  over  are  missing. 

Fitness — physical,  mental,  and  moral — depends  fundamentally 
on  health.  This  means  not  only  the  avoidance  of  diseases  and 
defects,  but  positive,  abundant  health — prime  condition  of  mind 
and  body.  Every  young  man  in  America,  to  be  worthy  of  the 
heritage  left  him  by  the  heroes  of  the  battlefield,  should  know  the 
laws  of  physical  and  mental  efficiency  and  live  up  to  them.  Keeping 
fit  for  America's  task  in  the  new  world  is  the  present  obligation  on 
every  youth  of  the  land. 

HANDICAPS  REVEALED  BY  WAR. 

The  examination  of  men  for  our  armies  revealed  the  causes 
which  produced  the  greatest  number  of  physical  "ineffectives"  and 
rejections.  Aside  from  wounds,  the  principal  causes  were  defective 
eyesight,  poor  teeth,  bad  feet,  and  venereal  diseases. 

facts  here  presented  are  aimed  to  reduce  inefficiency  from 
these  four  causes.  The  sell  discipline  and  healthy  activities  required 
to  prevent  these  diseases  and  defects  will  be  found  to  be  the  means 
also  of  abundant  health,  vigor,  and  general  well-being. 

DEFECTIVE  EYES. 

The  human  eye  is  one  of  the  most  marvelous  and  delicate 
mechanisms  known,  and,  next  to  the  vital  organs,  the  most 
important  part  of  the  body.  Yet  most  of  us  abuse  our  eyes 
unmercifully. 


KEEPING    HT, 


r— 


DEMANDS 


.^^w^^ 


1.  Muscular  Strength 
Z.Endurance 

3.  Energy 

4.  Will  Power 

5.  Courage 
S.Self-Control 


KEEPING   FIT.  5 

Close  your  eyes  and  for  a  half  minute  imagine  y  turself  blind. 
....   In  warfare  false  eyesight  is  almost  as  useless  as  blindness. 

The  most  frequent  kinds  of  poor  eyesight  causing  rejection  from 
the  Army  were  near  and  far  sightedness  and  astigmatism.  The 
same  conditions,  of  course,  handicap  a  man  almost  as  much  in 
civilian  life. 

Certain  defects  in  the  original  structure  of  the  eye  itself  can  not 
be  cured,  and  can  only  be  corrected  by  glasses  properly  fitted  by 
a  competent  oculist. 

Certain  other  defects,  due  to  mistreatment  of  the  eyes,  can  be 
cured  by  proper  glasses  which,  so  to  speak,  "train"  the  eye  back 
to  normal.  Some  kinds  of  defects,  such  as  certain  cases  of  "cross- 
eyes,"  may  be  helped  by  a  slight  operation.  Slight  muscular 
defects  often  cause  severe  eyestrain  without  the  patient  knowing 
what  is  wrong;. 

Still  other  eye  troubles  affect  chiefly  the  lids,  or  attack  (he  lids 
first  and  only  later  affect  the  eyesight  itself.  Proper  medical 
treatment  will  usually  cure  these  conditions.  Certain  infected 
cases,  however,  may  leave  permanent  scars. 

Varieties  of  eye  trouble  are  so  numerous  that  they  can  not  be 
described  here,  nor  would  it  be  wise  for  you  to  try  to  treat  your- 
self, for  the  symptoms  of  very  different  complaints  are  often  s<> 
nearly  alike — headache,  redness,  dimness,  etc. — that  only  a  physi- 
cian can  prescribe  properly.  For  any  continued  discomfort,  go  i.> 
a  reliable  eye  specialist  ; ophthalmologist  or  oculist). 

It  is  unwise  to  ask  an  optician  to  prescribe  for  eye  defects.  An 
optician  is,  or  should  be,  merely  one  who  makes  the  glasses  ordered 
by  the  physician,  and  it  is  no  safer  to  go  directly  to  the  optician 
than  it  would  be  to  go  to  a  druggist  for  surgical  treatment. 

It  is  possible,  however,  for  you  to  know  how  to  avoid  preventable 
eye  trouble.  Many  a  man's  career  has  been  handicapped  becaiw 
h>'  neglected  these  apparently  simple  rules: 

1.  When  reading,  writing,  etc..  be  sure  to  have  good,  clear  light, 
preferably  over  the  left  shoulder  if  writine;,  and  not  directly  in  the 

or  reflected  sharply  from  the  paper. 

2.  1  )o  not  hold  the  eves  less  than  12  inches  from  your  work. 

i.  Do  not  use  the  eyes  t<">  long  continuously-  -rest  them  a  lew 
minutes  occasionally  by  closing  them  or  looking  into  the  distance 
to  relax  them.  uld  do  this  at  least  every  houi    especiallj 

■  ling  fine  type  or  doing  intense,  <!  vork. 

■I.  Do  not  use  your  eyes  much  on  a  vibrating  train  or  car,  or  go 
too  often  to  motion  picture^     They  strain  th<  i 


6  KEEPING   FIT. 

5.  Keep  away  from  places  where  stone  chips,  sparks,  or  emery 
dust  is  flying,  or  wear  goggles. 

6.  If  strong  light  bothers  you,  wear  slightly  brown  non-magni- 
fying glasses  outdoors,  with  a  broad-brimmed  hat. 

7.  Avoid  the  common  towel  and  do  not  rub  the  eyes  with  dirty 
hands.     Contagious  eye  disease  is  spread  in  these  two  ways. 

DEFECTIVE  TEETH. 

It  should  hardly  be  necessary,  in  this  day,  to  emphasize  the 
importance  of  clean  teeth.  Bad  teeth  are  not  only  the  producers 
of  toothache,  but  also  harborers  of  disease  germs.  The  mouth 
is  the  gateway  to  the  throat  and  stomach,  and  it  pays  to  keep  it 
clean.  Poisons  absorbed  from  diseased  teeth  may  cause  intense 
suffering  and  loss  of  health. 

The  correct  way  to  brush  teeth  is  with  a  medium  soft  brush, 
with  an  up-and-down  stroke,  bearing  away  from  the  gums  toward 
the  point?  of  the  teeth,  so  as  to  get  the  food  from  between  the  teeth 
without  violently  pushing  back  the  gums. 

Even  if  you  keep  teeth  properly  cleaned  daily,  it  pays  to  have 
them  examined  and  cleaned  by  a  good  dentist  once  in  six  months, 
to  prevent  decay  and  avoid  disease. 

DEFECTIVE  FEET. 

In  battle  an  army  gets  from  where  it  is  to  where  it  is  going  on 
feet.  A  good  general  takes  almost  as  much  care  for  his  men's  feet 
and  stomachs  as  he  does  for  their  powder  and  shot. 

Men  were  not  rejected  for  corns  and  bunions,  unless  they  inter- 
fered with  wearing  a  military  shoe,  or  with  weight-carrying  power; 
but  they  are  a  nuisance,  and  they  can  be  avoided  by  having  properly 
fitted  shoes,  snug  but  not  pressing  or  stubbing  the  joints  or  toes. 
The  Army  "last"  is  a  safe  and  good-looking  shoe. 

Cleanliness  is  of  the  utmost  importance  in  keeping  the  feet  in 
condition.  Unless  this  is  attended  to  systematically,  the  skin 
becomes  softened  and  irritated  by  cast-off  particles  of  skin,  dirt, 
and  perspiration;  hence  blisters  and  abrasions  are  more  likely  to 
form. 

The  most  frequent  foot  trouble  serious  enough  to  cause  rejection 
and  real  handicap  was  the  fallen  arch,  or  "flat  foot."  This  may  be 
prevented  by  wearing  shoes  which  do  not  put  too  heavy  a  strain 
on  the  "arch"  of  the  foot,  but  give  it  mild  support.  Many  things 
besides  shoes  may  cause  flat  foot,  and  a  doctor  should  always  be 
consulted  for  any  continuous  foot  discomfort.  Foot  strain  is  also 
a  cause  of  some  kinds  of  backache  and  other  nervous  trouble. 


KEEPING   FIT.  7 

The  straight  position  of  the  foot — that  is,  with  the  feet  parallel — 
is  the  proper  one  for  both  standing  and  walking. 

If  a  shoe  threatens  to  injure  your  foot,  it  is  poor  economy  to  keep 
it.  Don't  buy  a  misfit  just  because  it  is  cheap  or  fashionable — it 
doesn't  pay.     Remember  the  doctor's  bills! 

VENEREAL  DISEASES. 

In  former  wars  germ  diseases  killed  more  soldiers  than  bullets, 
but  such  diseases  as  smallpox,  yellow  fever,  and  typhoid  were  suc- 
cessfully controlled  in  the  Great  War. 

Of  all  the  diseases  that  handicap  men  in  the  Army,  in  agricul- 
ture, mining,  lumbering,  and  shipbuilding,  the  venereal  diseases 
(syphilis,  gonorrhea,  and  chancroid)  cause  the  greatest  loss  of  time, 
money,  and  efficiency,  besides  untold  misery.  Surgeon  General 
Gorgas  said  that  if  it  were  possible  to  get  rid  of  all  wounds  or  of 
all  venereal  disease  he  would  rather  be  rid  of  the  venereal  cases. 

If  Germany  had  hired  an  army  of  spies  to  scatter  disease  germs 
among  our  soldiers  and  thus  to  keep  them  from  the  front,  the 
nation  would  have  wrathfully  protested.  If  an  American  general 
had  permitted  infected  persons  to  mix  freely  with  our  soldiers,  he 
would,  in  effect,  have  been  aiding  the  enemy.  Venereal  diseases 
are  as  bad  as  smallpox  and  almost  as  "catching."  Yet  every  day 
many  men  and  boys  are  exposing  themselves  to  venereal  diseases, 
largely  through  ignorance  of  the  laws  of  health  and  lack  of  self- 
control.  False  modesty  has  caused  silence  about  venereal  diseases 
because  they  are  usually  caught  from  immoral  relations  with  women 
and  girls  who,  in  turn,  have  caught  one  or  the  other  diseases  from 
some  man. 

Practically  all  prostitutes,  and  girls  and  women  who  may  not 
be  professional  prostitutes  but  who  permit  men  to  have  sexual 
relations  with  them,  have  one  or  more  of  these  venereal  diseases. 
Many  such  women  arc  feeble-minded.  They  are  to  be  pitied 
and  avoided. 

Here  arc  a  few  more  facts  about  venereal  diseases  which  you 
should  know  for  the  protection  of  yourself  and  others: 

1.  Gonorrhea  (sometimes  vulgarly  called  "clap"  or  "a  dose") 

can    be    cured,    it'    promptly    and     thoroughly    treated,    without 

apparent   loss  of  health,   but   it    always  has  serious  possibilities. 

In  many  cases  it  causes  chronic  pain  and  distress  in  the  sexual 

with     •  /ere  mental   depression.     It    may  lead   to  condi- 

uhieh     can  of     health     or    even     death;    in    many 

■    injures  sexual   power  and   fertility,  and   it   occasionally 
cripples  a   man   for  life   (gonorrheal   rheumatism).     The   loss  ol 


h  KEEPING   FIT. 

health,  time,  and  money  caused  by  these  sequels  and  their  treatment 
may  far  exceed  that  caused  by  the  original  disease,  which  is  in 
itself  bad  enough. 

The  widespread  notion  among  the  uninformed  that  gonorrhea  is 
a  mere  annoyance,  "no  worse  than  a  cold,"  is  based  entirely  upon 
lamentable  ignorance.     It  is  absolutely  false. 

2.  This  disease  sometimes  persists  in  the  deeper  parts  long 
after  it  is  apparently  cured.  It  thus  happens  that  a  man  may 
give  the  disease  without  knowing  it  to  his  wife,  who  there- 
upon enters  upon  a  period  of  ill-health  that  may  end  in  an  opera- 
tion involving  the  mutilation  of  her  sexual  organs  in  order  to  save 
her  life,  or  perhaps  actually  killing  her.  Much  of  the  surgery 
performed  on  the  reproductive  organs  of  women  is  made  necessary 
by  gonorrhea  contracted  from  the  husband.  Often  such  women 
can  never  have  children.  Should  the  wife  while  infected  with  this 
disease  give  birth  to  a  child,  the  baby's  eyes  may  be  attacked  by 
gonorrhea  germs  and  blindness  may  result. 

3.  The  other  serious  venereal  disease,  syphilis,  infects  the  blood 
and  therewith  all  parts  of  the  body.  For  months  after  infection 
with  this  disease,  a  person  may  communicate  it  even  by  personal 
contact,  such  as  by  kissing;  and  articles  touched  by  his  saliva 
or  sores — towels,  drinking  glasses,  pipes,  etc. — may  sometimes 
carry  the  infection  to  others.  Although  the  disease,  under  proper 
treatment,  is  not  dangerous  to  life  in  the  earlier  years  of  its 
progress,  the  possibilities  of  transmitting  it  should  forbid  the 
marriage  of  the  person  until  a  competent  physician  has  certified 
to  his  freedom  from  disease. 

4.  The  most  serious  results  of  syphilis  may  appear  years  after 
its  beginnings,  when  the  individual  has  been  lulled  into  a  false 
sense  of  security  by  long  freedom  from  its  manifestations,  and 
considers  himself  cured.  It  may  attack  any  organ  of  the  body. 
Among  the  diseased  conditions  produced  in  various  cases  are 
apoplexy,  paralysis,  insanity,  and  locomotor  ataxia,  and  these 
often  appear  after  the  man  has  a  family  dependent  upon  him  for 
support. 

5.  The  injury  to  the  individual  caused  by  syphilis  is  shown  in 
the  attitude  of  the  leading  insurance  companies  toward  those  so 

1  Apoplexy  refers  to  sudden  paralysis  and  deep  stupor  cau=ted  by  WsrediBg  Into  the  brnin  or 
spinal  cord. 

'2  Paralysis  means  a  loss  of  motion  or  sensation  In  some  part  of  the  body. 

•'insanity  means  disorder  of  the  mind,  more  or  less  permanent,  but  without  ioss  of  conscious- 
ness or  will. 

4  Locomotor  ataxia  means  failure  of  muscular  control  and  other  changes  due  to  degeneration 
of  certain  parts  of  the  spip.al  -ovd  and  •-.-rv-sv 


KEEPING   FIT,  9 

infected — a  purely  business  matter,  devoid  of  all  sentimental  con- 
siderations. They  refuse  to  insure  the  life  of  a  syphilitic  person 
for  four  or  five  years  after  the  disease  has  been  contracted,  and 
then  only  upon  special  terms;  for  their  records  prove  that  syphilis 
tends  to  shorten  life,  and  that  the  death  rate  for  those  who  have 
had  syphilis  is  double  the  rate  fo^  those  who  have  never  con- 
tracted it. 

6.  That  the  syphilitic  parent  may  transmit  the  disease  to  his 
offspring  is  common  knowledge;  some  of  his  children  may  be 
destroyed  by  the  disease  before  birth;  others  may  be  born  to  a  brief 
and  sickly  span  of  life;  others  attain  maturity  seriously  handi- 
capped by  a  burden  of  ill  health,  incapacity,  and  misery  produced 
by  the  inherited  taint;  others  escape  these  evil  effects. 

7.  The  above  facts  show  why  a  father  has  a  right  and  duty  to 
demand  a  health  certificate  from  any  man  who  asks  for  his  daughter 
in  marriage. 

8.  The  only  safe  way  to  avoid  venereal  diseases  is  to  keep  away 
from  prostitutes  and  loose  girls.  Between  syphilis  and  gonorrhea, 
choose  neither. 

9.  If  a  man  contracts  gonorrhea  or  syphilis  he  will  save  money 
and  time  by  consulting  a  competent  physician  as  soon  as  symptoms 
of  the  infection  appear.  Medical  institutes  and  quack  doctors  are 
far  more  interested  in  your  pocketbook  than  in  your  health.  To 
rely  on  drug-store  remedies  for  self-treatment  is  equally  dangerous. 
They  do  not  eradicate  the  infection,  and  it  should  always  be 
remembered  that  merely  covering  up  a  disease  does  not  cure  it.  A 
complete  cure  is  never  effected  until  the  system  has  been  entirely 
freed  of  the  infection.  Otherwise  it  may  smolder  and  break  out 
years  later.  In  many  cases  attempted  self-treatment  permits  the 
infection  to  secure  such  a  hold  on  the  system  that  a  cure  becomes 
imp<  sufferer's  condition  eventually  drives  him  to  a 

le  physician,  only  to  find  that  he  has  come  too  late.  For 
the  individual  to  rely  on  drug-store  remedies  or  quack  doctors  is 
to  gamble  his  whole  future,  with  the  odds  all  against  him. 

10.  Do  by  "quacks"  and  "medical  institutes."  In 
many  cities  these  unscrupulous  quacks  advertise  to  cure  "lost  man- 
hood," "nervous  debility,"  "spermatorrhea,"  "pimples,"  and  things 
wh:  :  ig  to  do  wiili  i  v  u  !•  alth.  They  try  to  frighten 
the  ignoranl  into  paying  large   sums  of  money  for  the  "cure"  of 

which  do  not  exist,  and  the  lies  they  disseminate  help  to 
They   have   been   actually   run   out  of 
»i  the  counl  i 


10 


KEEPING    FIT. 

TRAINING  RULES. 


To  be  really  physically  fit,  however,  it  is  not  enough  to  be  free 
from  disabling  defects.  Many  men  were  rejected  from  the  Army 
simply  because  of  "poor  physique."  You  must  be  in  good  general 
condition  all  the  time  if  you  want  to  win  out,  whether  in  war  or 
in  peace. 


TRAINING 

S 


KEEP  FIT 

■fox  War  or  Peace 
by  adopting  these  5  Rules: 

1.  Exercise  Wisely 

2.  Eat  Wholesome  Food 

3.  Get  All  the  Fresh  Air  Possible 

4.  Take  Sufficient  Rest 
S.Keep  Clean 


QUACK  DOCTORS 

Try  to  frighten  men  by 
untruthful  advertisements. 
They  get  large  sums  of 
money  for  treating 
diseases  that  do  not  exist. 

Patent  Medicines  and 
"Favorite  Prescriptions" 

ARE  DANGEROUS 


To  achieve  the  maximum  of  physical  and  mental  efficiency  you 
must  follow  five  common-sense  rules: 

(1)  The  first  of  these  is  sufficient  exercise  of  the  right  kind. 
Reading  the  sporting  page,  yelling  in  the  grandstand,  and  watch- 
ing the  baseball  bulletin  boards  may  be  enjoyable,  but  will  never 
make  a  man  vigorous.  He  must  himself  take  daily  exercise.  Hik- 
ing, baseball,  rowing  and  canoeing,  skating  in  the  open  air,  swim- 
ming, tennis,  team  games,  general  gymnasium  work,  boxing  and 
wrestling  where  the  air  is  fresh,  are  among  the  most  beneficial 
forms  of  exercise.  Any  useful  work  using  the  big  muscles  actively 
is  as  good  as  sports. 

Your  daily  exercise  should  be  vigorous  enough  to  cause  you  to 
perspire  freely.  This  helps  the  body  to  throw  off  certain  waste 
products  which,  if  they  are  allowed  to  accumulate,  will  act  as 
poisons.  After  exercising  take  a  bath.  A  shower  is  better  than  a 
tub  bath.  A  washbowl  or  any  other  contrivance  is  better  than 
nothing.    Warm  water  should  be  used  first,  then  cold.    The  bath 


KEEPING    FIT.  11 

should  be  followed  by  a  vigorous  rub  down  with  a  coarse  towel, 
the  whole  process  taking  no  longer  than  4  or  5  minutes.  The  bath 
and  rub  down  should  produce  a  healthy  glow  of  the  body  and  a 
general  feeling  of  well-being. 

(2)  Second,  sleep  in  the  fresh  air,  work  and  exercise  in  the  fresh 
air  as  much  as  possible,  and  be  sure  to  have  the  indoor  air  kept 
fresh  during  the  day.  Fresh  air  is  almost  a  cure-all.  It  is  usually 
more  valuable  than  any  quantity  of  medicine. 

(3)  In  the  third  place,  you  probably  need  at  least  eight  hours' 
sleep  every  night.  A  man  can  get  along  on  less,  but  he  can  not 
keep  himself  in  the  best  possible  physical  and  mental  condition. 
Do  not  lie  in  bed  after  waking,  but  jump  out,  bathe,  and  dress 
immediately.  Avoid  soft  mattresses,  feather  beds,  and  too  much 
covering. 

(4)  Proper  food  is  another  requirement.  The  system  needs  not 
only  the  kind  of  food  that  is  rich  in  nourishment,  but  vegetables 
and  other  coarser  food  to  give  bulk  and  stimulate  the  bowels. 
When  this  is  not  done,  one  becomes  constipated  and  is  likely  to 
have  headaches  and  general  ill  health.  Regular  movements  of  the 
bowels  are  aided  by  an  abundance  of  exercise  and  by  eating  plenty 
of  fruit  and  drinking  plenty  of  pure  water. 

(5)  Finally,  if  you  are  to  gain  maximum  efficiency  and  retain  it, 
it  is  important  that  you  should  understand  the  relationship  of  the 
reproductive,  or  sex  organs,  to  the  development  of  vigor.  This 
needs  to  be  carefully  explained,  because,  while  the  facts  are  im- 
portant, they  are  not  generally  understood. 

SEX  HEALTH. 

Sex  accounts  for  the  differences  and  attractions  in  mind  as  well 
as  in  body  between  men  and  women.  The  ways  a  person 
behaves  in  relation  to  such  matters  are  called  his  sex  habits.  A 
man's  sex  habits  have  much  to  do  with  his  health  and   efficiency. 

Most  men  have  received  their  first  information  about  sex  from 
lies,  half-truths,  and  smutty  stories,  from  pictures  or  shows,  or 
from  other  boys  or  men  who  thought  they  knew  it  all,  but  had 
only  filthy  ideas  about  sex,  and  laughed  at  it.  Most  people  were 
never  told  in  a  serious  way  by  their  parents  or  by  a  doctor  what 
maturity,  marriage,  and  having  children  really  mean. 

All  that  is  besl  in  modern  life  and  civilization  has  grown  mainly 
out  of  the  Bex  impulses.  Hunger  and  aex  are  the  two  great  driving 
forces  in  the  world.  The  hunger  motives  have  given  rise  to  our 
economic  or  self  seelRng  life;    the  sex  or  love  motives  have  given 


12 


KEEPING    FIT. 


rise  to  the  spiritual  and  social  aspects  of  life,  aspects  which  find 
their  highest  satisfaction  in  the  happiness  and  service  of  others. 
Human  affection,  which  is  the  finest  and  often  the  most  powerful 
motive  in  life,  is  the  highest  product  of  sex  in  the  world.  That  is 
why  defiling  of  the  affections  so  completely  destroys  character  and 
manhood.  With  sex  destroyed  or  debauched  we  should  lose  nearly 
all  that  is  beautiful  in  art,  poetry,  music,  and  literature — for  court- 
ship), marriage,  fatherhood,  motherhood,  birth,  true  family  life,  and 
all  our  most  generous  impulses  are  due  to  sex. 


WHAT  GLANDS  ARE  FOR 

Glands  make  secretions 
needed  in  a  healthy  body. 

liecreticnfixtm  salivary  glands  aids  in  digesting  food 
1     "         "   oil  glands  helps  keep  hair  and  scalp  healthy. 

3.  "         "   tear  glands  ivoistens  and  cleans  eyes. 

4.  "        "  thyroid  glands  aids  in  brain  development 

5.  "        "  testicles  aids  in  body  development. 

N°4  and  N?5  make  secretions 

that  go  directly  into 

the  blood. 


A  NATURAL  PROCESS  BN  MEN 

About  once  or  twice  a  month  a  fluid 

from  up  inside  the  body  is 

discharged  during  sleep. 

This  is  called  a  seminal  emission. 

DO  NOTWORRY 

This  is  natural  and  happens  to  all 
healthy  men  and  older  boys. 

Think  no  further  about  them. 

The  fluid  discharged  during  sleep  is  net  the 
secretion  that  goes  to  the  muscle  and  brain. 


It  would  not  be  possible  for  a  boy  to  achieve  the  full  vigor  of 
manhood  were  it  not  for  the  reproductive  or  sex  organs.  This  fact 
may  be  made  clear  by  referring  to  the  activity  of  the  various  glands 
in  the  body.  Everyone  is  probably  acquainted  with  the  salivary 
glands,  and  the  glands  in  the  stomach  which  secrete  the  gastric 
juice.  There  are  also  glands  which  make  secretions  that  are 
absorbed  by  the  blood.  One  of  these  glands  is  called  the  thyroid. 
If  a  boy  were  seriously  injured  so  as  to  necessitate  the  removal  of 
the  thyroid  gland  it  would  probably  retard  the  development  of  his 
brain. 

The  testicles  are  glands  which,  like  the  thyroid  glands,  secrete 
an  exceedingly  important  substance.  The  blood  absorbs  this  sub- 
stance, or  secretion,  and  carries  it  all  through  the  body.  It  gives 
tone  to  the  muscles,  power  to  the  brain,  and  strength  to  the  nerves. 


KEEPING   FIT 


13 


It  is  what  caused  your  voice  to  change,  your  shoulders  to  square 
out,  your  beard  to  start  growing.  It  literally  makes  a  man  out 
of  you. 

For  the  above  reasons  it  is  of  paramount  importance  to  a  man's 
efficiency  and  happiness  that  his  sex  organs  be  kept  healthy.  For 
this  physical  cleanliness  is  the  first  essential. 


THE  CONTROL 

OF  THE 

TRAIN 

THE  ENGINEER,  is 
responsible  for  the 
passengers  behind  him. 

THE  YOUNG  MAM  is 
responsible  for  the 
fenerations  to  follow. 


CONTROL 

OF  THS 

M3UN?£!N  !T£E8M 

The  Dashing  Torrent  Has  Much 

Unused  Energy 
When  Controlled  and  Directed 

it  Generates  Power 
for 

Trolieys-Lighting-Factorles 

end  oiher 

bserut  Purposes. 


Inside  the  body,  near  the  bladder,  are  certain  small  glands  which, 
when  a  boy  reaches  the  age  of  15,  16,  or  17  (though  it  may  be  earlier 
or  later),  become  filled  with  a  fluid  occasionally  discharged  in  the 
night.  This  discharge  is  called  a  seminal  or  nocturnal  emission,  or 
"wet  dream."  It  is  a  perfectly  healthy  experience.  It  may  come 
two,  three,  or  four  times  a  month,  or  only  once  in  two  or  three 
months.  To  prevent  too  frequent  emissions,  it  is  well  not  to  lie  on 
the  back  when  sleeping,  <>r  to  drink  much  water  late  in  the  evening. 
If  you  keep  yourself  clean  in  mind  and  body,  however,  and  ordi- 
narily feel  no  ill  <  !!<<  t  after  natural  emis  ions,  you  need  not  and 
should  not  worry. 

Some  ignorant  men  or  quack  doctors  may  tell  you  that  the  sex 
organs  must  be  used  if  they  arc  to  be  kept  healthy.  This  is  a  lie. 
Manhood  is  not  losl  by  disuse  of  the  sex  organs.  Real  lost  man- 
hood is  usually  due  to  veueif.il  disease  or  long  abuse  of  the  sex 
organs. 

Famous  boxers  and  wrestlers,  explorers,  and  athletes  who  want 


14 


KEEPING    FIT. 


their  bodies  in  perfect  condition  for  a  great  struggle,  keep  away 
from  women  as  part  of  their  training.  Even  the  ancients  recognized 
this  in  training  their  gladiators  and  athletes,  and  reputable  doctors 
agree  that  sex  indulgence  is  not  necessary  to  health. 

CONTROL  AND  CONSERVATION  OF  MANHOOD. 

Over-exercise  or  excitement  of  the  sex  glands  may  exhaust  them 
and  weaken  a  man.  If  a  boy  or  man  himself  stimulates  his  sex 
organs  it  is  called  "self-abuse"  or  "masturbation."    This  practice 


The  Sex  Instinct  in  a 

Boy  or  Man 
Makes  Him  Want  to 

ACT,  DARE, POSSESS,  STRIVE 


When  Controlled  and  Directed 
It  Gives- 

ENERGY-ENDURANCE 
FITNESS 


does  not  make  a  man  insane,  but  it  is  so  weakening  both  to  the  body 
and  to  the  will  power  that  many  boys  and  men  worry  themselves 
sick  over  the  habit.  If  a  man  or  boy  who  abuses  himself  stops 
immediately,  once  and  for  always,  nature  comes  to  his  rescue  and 
aids  him  in  recovering  self-respect,  courage,  and  vigor  of  mind  and 
body.  If  you  are  tempted  to  abuse  yourself,  or  have  acquired  the 
habit,  you  can  cure  yourself  by  athletics,  fun,  and  your  own  self- 
respect  and  will  power.  Most  boys  who  masturbate  stop  the  habit 
before  lasting  injury  has  been  done.  Going  to  a  prostitute  instead 
does  not  really  break  the  habit.  It  makes  matters  worse.  Needless 
vto  say,  neither  kind  of  habit  helps  to  make  strong  men. 


AA    000  731  189    7 

KEEPING   FIT. 

Thinking  about  or  looking  at  things  which  excite  the  sex  feelings 
makes  it  difficult  to  control  the  sex  organs,  just  as  looking  at  food 
makes  the  mouth  water,  or  thinking  of  a  sorrow  may  bring  tears  to 
the  eyes.  Liquor  makes  it  easy  to  lose  control  of  the  thoughts  and 
hard  to  resist  temptation,  and  it  makes  the  body  more  liable  to 
disease.  That  is  one  reason  why  the  Government  prohibits  liquor 
to  soldiers.  While  it  is  not  always  possible  to  prevent  these  things 
from  coming  to  your  attention,  it  is  possible,  by  using  will  power, 
to  direct  the  attention  away  from  these  harmful  influences  and 
center  it  on  wholesome  subjects.  You  can  learn  the  trick  of  switch- 
ing the  thoughts  away  quickly  from  suggestive  subjects  to  athletics, 
school  work,  or  some  "hobby"  or  other.  A  man  who  is  "thinking 
below  the  belt"  can  not  be  100  per  cent  efficient.  The  mind  should 
not  be  made  a  cesspool,  but  a  reservoir  which  is  not  to  be  con- 
taminated. 

The  sex  instinct  may  be  either  a  destroying  scourge  or  a  great 
blessing.  If  it  be  abused,  inefficiency  and  suffering  may  result  for 
the  man  and  his  wife  and  children.  If  it  be  understood  and  con- 
trolled, it  is  a  source  of  strength  and  of  richer  and  fuller  life. 

The  nature  of  the  sex  instinct  may  be  understood  by  comparing 
it  with  other  forces  of  nature.  Fire  is  a  great  blessing  to  mankind. 
By  means  of  it  machinery  is  made  to  perform  gigantic  tasks.  It 
warms  our  houses  and  cooks  our  food.  The  warmth  and  glow  of 
a  camp  fire  is  a  source  of  great  pleasure  to  campers.  When  fire  is 
controlled  it  is  a  valuable  aid  to  man,  but  when  it  gets  beyond 
control  it  may  cause  ruin. 

The  water  above  a  dam  becomes  a  source  of  power  when  directed 
into  the  turbines  which  run  dynamos.    If  it  be  merely  held  back  by 
the  dam.  it  may  accumulate  and  cause  a  break,  resulting  in  a  flood. 
To  be  useful  it  must  not  only  be  held  back,  it  must  also  be  dire' 
into  the  turbines.    So  sex  energy  must  be  controlled  and  directed. 
In  entering  into  manhood  you  may  need  the  full  power  of  your  will 
to  keep  your  sex  desires  from  leading  you  into  practices  thai 
and  destroy  yourself  and  others.     But  you  will  be  helped 
cultivating  healthful  sex  interests  and  turning  your  powers  <>l  mind 
and  body  into  athletics,  work,  study,  art.  music,  religion— any 
structive  sodal  activity.    A  man  thoroughly  absorbed  in  Ins  work 
for  others  or  in  training  for  a  career  of  community  usefulnes 
no  time  or  desire  to  bother  with  smut  or  \i<  <•.  A 


16  •:•  fit 

RELATIONSHIPS  WITH  GIRLS. 

Think  of  all  girls  as  the  future  mothers  of  the  race,  and  under- 
stand that  one  of  their  most  important  functions  in  life  is  to  become 
the  mothers  of  healthy  children  who  will  make  useful  citizens.  A 
nation  as  well  as  a  man  may  well  be  judged  by  its  attitude  toward 
women. 

The  man  who  is  fair  will  treat  every  girl  as  he  expects  others  to 
treat  his  own  sister.  There  is  no  finer  thing  than  the  friendship  of  a 
true  girl  and  a  true  man. 

The  man  who  seeks  wine  and  loose  women  is  taking  a  big  chance. 
F  tr  from  being  strong,  he  is  weak.  The  man  who  does  so,  needlessly 
exposes  to  danger  the  body  and  mind.  He  is  disloyal  to  his  own 
best  self. 

In  an  accident  at  sea,  when  everyone  is  anxious  to  reach  the  life- 
boats, the  rule  for  all  men  is,  "women  and  children  first."  If  a  man 
rushes  in  ahead  of  them,  he  is  looked  upon  as  a  coward.  It  is  even 
more  important  for  men  to  protect  girls  and  women  from  other 
dangers,  especially  from  those  dangers  which  threaten  to  ruin  their 
lives.  We  fought  to  preserve  our  homes  from  autocracy  and  rapine. 
Let  us  see  to  it  they  are  protected  also  from  internal  enemies  of 
disease  and  disgrace.  If  we  were  ready  to  die  to  protect  our  homes, 
we  should  surely  live  in  such  a  way  as  to  safeguard  them. 

Every  man  who  has  any  principle  believes  in  fair  play.  He 
despises  cheating.  If  you  are  for  the  "square  deal."  you  will  adopt 
for  your  own  life  the  same  standard  you  expect  of  the  woman  you 
are  to  marry  some  day.  The  chain  of  human  beings  reaches  into 
the  infinite  past  and  forward  into  the  infinite  future.  But  one  false 
step  may  infect  your  own  racial  stock  and  blight  the  lives  of  genera- 
tions to  come,  or  even  cut  you  off  entirely  from  your  share  of  pos- 
terity. If  a  man  keeps  his  body  in  good  condition  and  lives  a  clean 
life  his  descendants  will  thank  him  for  a  vigorous  and  untainted 
heritage.  The  spark  of  life  is  to  be  accepted  as  a  sacred  trust  to  be 
transmitted  undimmed  to  future  generations. 


DO  NOT  DESTROY— 

When  yon  have  no  further  rue  fo'  this  pom- 
ohh.t  give  it  to  some  boy  of  your  own  a.}e 


